A'S NOTEBOOK / Blue Jays Still Covet Stairs

Published 4:00 am, Monday, April 13, 1998

1998-04-13 04:00:00 PDT New York -- Matt Stairs said yesterday he gets a kick out of hearing speculation on ESPN that the Toronto Blue Jays are eager to make a trade to bring him back home to Canada.

"It kind of flatters you knowing there's a team that wants you," he said. "I get a lot of respect when I go to Toronto."

The Blue Jays called the A's in the offseason to inquire about Stairs' availability, but were only willing to offer pitcher Woody Williams. Their need for offense makes it likely that they will up the ante on a Stairs deal, but the timing isn't right. Roger Clemens missed a start with a groin injury and Erik Hanson came off the disabled list yesterday.

"I've said I don't want to leave Oakland," Stairs said. "We're headed in the right direction. . . . But trades are part of the game."

Stairs even asked manager Art Howe if a trade was brewing and was told it was not. General manager Billy Beane was in San Diego yesterday celebrating Easter with his family and could not be reached for comment.

Over the weekend, the A's agreed on a three-year contract extension for Jason Giambi worth nearly $10 million. When Stairs was asked how negotiations were proceeding between the A's and his agent on an extension, he said "No comment. . . . We'll see what happens this month."

Stairs went 2-for-4 and leads the A's with a .367 average.

SPIEZIO'S SLUMP: Scott Spiezio went 0-for-3 to drop his average to .147. He's 4-for-18 against the Yankees this year with a grand slam. "I'm just not coming through with hits right now," he said. "I'm a streaky guy. I've always been streaky."

MISCELLANY: Rickey Henderson had back-to-back doubles, his first extra-base hits this year. . . . Henderson's slow start drops his A's career average to .292, making Geronimo Berroa (.293) the all- time leading Oakland A's hitter. Giambi ranks third (.290). . . . Jason McDonald stole his sixth base. He had 13 stolen bases last season -- and led the A's.